How did Spiritual Energetic Psychotherapy™ develop?
Spiritual Energetic Psychotherapy™ (SEP) was 20 years in the making. The first step was studying Clinical Psychology (MA in 1976). As anyone will tell you, a Master's degree allows you to enter the world as one insecure clinician. At that time there were no requirements for supervision. You were on your own. After six years at Catholic Charities in Houston working in a number of areas, especially with pregnant teens and their families, Cathy became the staff therapist at a large Catholic parish. During this time she learned to integrate prayer in the therapeutic process. The first phase was praying with people at the end of each session. She then used visualization prayer and inner healing prayer. Cathy noticed that those who incorporated prayer got well more quickly than those who did not.

While at the parish Cathy began a weekly 12-Step program for people who were in 12-Step programs and wanted a meeting with a greater focus on spirituality. That group, the Monday Night Miracles, led to her next position working in an in-patient and out-patient treatment program for alcoholics. She led a group known as Step Spirit. The purpose of the group was to help the patient contact their spiritual nature. Her methods are discussed in her book "Step Spirit: The Twelve Steps as a Spiritual Program."

With the spiritual aspect of her therapeutic style incorporated in her therapy, Cathy was introduced to energy work through Healing Touch™. As she practiced the various Healing Touch™ modalities, Cathy discovered that people shared much more easily about what was happening to them. Somehow the blocks to their recovery were dissolving while she did the energy work. As she learned more about energy work, Cathy realized that the blocks to therapy were caused by blockages in the person's energy field. These blockages were the result of the energy of various thoughts, feelings, beliefs and actions. The energy from the various events coalesced in a part of the energy field forming a blockage, much like a dam blocks the flow of water. When the blockage was removed, healing was facilitated.

While studying for her doctorate in Mind/Body Psychology at The Union Institute, Cathy studied an innovative form of hypnotherapy from The Wellness Institute in Seattle. She then incorporated what she learned about the altered state into her healing work. As Cathy wrote her papers for the various courses she had developed for her doctoral program, she realized that they described the way she did therapy. The result was her dissertation, a case study of a SEP client using the work of Caroline Myss, Ph.D., as a springboard for evaluation and discussion. The process of writing her dissertation completed the integration of psychotherapy, spirituality, energy work and hypnotherapy.

How does SEP differ from hypnotherapy?
SEP begins with Healing Touch™ as its base. Healing Touch™ is very relaxing. As the client relaxes, the client enters an altered state similar to that of hypnotherapy. As Cathy does Healing Touch™ she comes to energy blockages and facilitates the client getting in touch with the blockages. The client then discovers the source of the blockages and releases them.

What causes the blockages?
The blockages are congested energies that get stuck in the energy field. The energies of thoughts, belief systems (i.e., I'm not good enough), feelings (i.e., fear, anxiety) and events (trauma) were not released by the individual and are stuck in the body. The client is empowered to release the blocked energy. Usually, the release is well on its way when the client becomes aware of the source of the congested energy. The client makes the decision to release it and then either breathes it out or has an angel or spiritual figure take it away.

I'm tired of reliving my abuse. Can't I release the energy without having to go through the whole thing again?
Yes. SEP works with the energy of the event. It is usually not necessary to relive the events. You may know the nature of the energy (i.e., fear, anxiety, shame) but not the causative event. Other times you will know both the nature of the energy and the event. If you do recall the trauma, you will not need to relive it to release the energy.

Do these blockages come from just this lifetime?
No, blockages can be the result of something that happened many lifetimes ago. When this is the case an image of another time will often come to the individual as s/he focuses on the blocked energy. Sometimes the person "sees" a knife, sword, spear, bullet or some other implement of violence.

How do you know if past-life experiences are real?
I don't. The "memories" may simply be a metaphor for something the individual has experienced. The important thing is for the energy to be released. Whether the individual believes it is a "real" event or a metaphor does not matter.

Can anything else cause blockages?
Yes, there are times when blockages are caused by spirits that need to be returned to God or Spirit. Cathy sees these spirits of three types. The first are those who lost their way after they left their bodies (death). The other group are those who are still living but have sent part of their spirit to be with someone. This happens when someone is so concerned about someone else that their energies or spirit go to that person. The final group are those who never had bodies and believe that they can never return to God. Cathy thinks of these spirits as those who have forgotten who they are.

Is it dangerous to release spirits?
She has never had any problem. Everyone stays in their heart. Love is the most powerful force in the world. Even spirits who believe they are evil are affected by Love. In fact, many are afraid of Love. They have been taught to fear Love. The process Cathy uses is gentle. She takes steps to be sure that every spirit is escorted by one or more angels to the Light. Some need to go to a place of learning for a time, but all can return to the Light.